My personal feeling is that we will be lucky to see half of the furloughs return. So, estimating 110 returning to staff 36 new airplanes plus continued attrition, I would expect to see Mesaba hire in the neighborhood of 250-260 between now and end of 2008. Expect Compass to hire roughly 300 or more in the same time. (We could ultimately be one and the same, but who knows.)

At Mesaba your pay will look like this for the CRJ900

Year Capt FO
1 57.21 22.81
2 58.94 27.35
3 60.71 30.03
4 62.52 32.71
5 64.39 33.69
6 66.33 34.68
7 68.32 35.73
8 70.37 36.80
9 72.48 36.80
10 74.66 36.80

Keep in mind too that we have all of these "kickers" in the TA that will boost those numbers some depending on aircraft on property and true ups based on average seniority etc. etc.

And just think. Now that Colgan is in the "family" we could see our Saabs get taken away and given to them to operate at lower cost! If you dare join the Red Tail family, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride and HAVE A PLAN B.